middaeg | open | if you know the hunter’s coming, then you hide or keep on running

Entry tags:

open | if you know the hunter’s coming, then you hide or keep on running

Who: Byleth Eisner and you
When: Throughout Aguril
Where: All over
What: Catchall! Event prompts for now, probably quest and general threads to come. Custom closed starters will go in the comments.
Warnings: None so far.

i. poppin’ parties

[ she’s never been much for large celebrations. when she’s enjoyed them in the past, it’s largely been because she was surrounded by friends. among a crowd of strangers, it’s far less appealing. given the heat, she’s dressed in a light blouse and dark trousers, that just-short-of-unruly dark blue hair swept back with a ribbon. on the bright side, she’s quite fond of the drink that was shoved into her hands on the sudden invitation. There are errands to get back to, things that need to be done… but that can wait.

byleth is mostly content to play the wallflower for the moment, glassy eyes scanning the crowd in vain hopes of seeing someone familiar—or at the very least, someone who seems equally out of place. ]

I haven’t known the locals to be this insistent before.

ii. say yes to the dress

[ oh, she’s not comfortable with this at all. for Reasons. even so, the designers seemed keen to have her help, so… she felt it was the least she could do. rookie mistake. she should have known better. at least the suit is nice. a black jacket and trousers, a red brocade waistcoat and a white shirt and cravat. still, her discomfort with the situation is plain to see, along with a clear reluctance to play along more than is necessary. maybe you’re the would-be “bride”? or just someone checking the situation out for a laugh?

please help. ]

iii. red string strung along

[ byleth has had this explained to her and finds it absurd at best. at worst, it’s almost insulting. she knows exactly whose heart is intertwined with her own, and from a quick conversation with a coven witch, it’s clear that the spell that caused this was… unreliable. still, she finds herself following the threads at multiple points that day, curious about who she might find on the other end, if nothing else. the slight scowl on her face only deepens as the day wears on, and if it weren’t for the patent ridiculousness of being led o’er hill and dale by a magic string, the sight of her stalking purposefully down the street while wearing a sword, pistol and dagger might send a slightly intimidating impression.

unless someone happened to catch her in a not-infrequent moment of distraction. like, for instance, crouching with an array of stray cats gathered around her, petting one while reaching into her satchel for treats. even so, after either a brief search or a longer, more annoying one, she’s reached the end of one of her strings! so, who should she find, but…? ]

iv. wildcard

[ honestly just do whatever. live your best life. lets talk options ]

[ hit me up at

clockworkbrain or hexennacht#7576 if you want to discuss anything ]

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[ Saber has been dealing with red strings herself all day. She's already resolved one by meeting a particular fellow, but she's still got a few lingering on her fingers. It's an irritation, honestly, but she's determined to figure out where they lead. So she's been tracking one all day, following it around corners and down side-streets, occasionally giving it a tug just to see if she gets a response. She's aware that her bonded is feeling a sense of irritation herself, but she hasn't asked after it.

She's hoping she's going to be approaching the end when she turns a corner to find Byleth crouched and examining some cats. And... wait. Does the string lead to her? ]

Byleth.

[ She sounds a little surprised. ]

Where did all those cats come from...? [ More importantly, why are they tied together with red string? ]

[Here comes your would-be 'bride', Byleth. Soundwave's avatar in a wedding dress, who's looking just as out of place and reluctant with playing along. To his surprise, plain to see on the holoavatar's face, he didn't expect to find Byleth here. A thin line is formed on the avatar's lips, crossing his arms together in a huff.]

Byleth. You too, hm...

[This is not his first gig. Apparently the tailors aren't done with him yet, something about the avatar being a fitting model for them (which annoys him), and shoved him towards their newly groom...]

Saber.

[ she says it almost absently as she looks up. byleth's really a little more engaged with the cats right now, the string is nearly forgotten. oops. ]

I tend to attract strays. [ as if that's any kind of explanation. finally, the string catches her eye, brows lifting in understanding. she tugs her hand back a little, experimentally. ]

I have one at home myself.

[ A stray, that is, that she and Steak found one day. They're very cute. The tug reminds her of her purpose and she holds up her hand to show off the red string. ]

It seems the spell thought to bind us together. Although I have no idea if it was intentional or not.

Overwhelming, is it not? The candor of this world is so odd.

[ says merrin, who stands not too far from byleth, observing as one does from the outside looking in. even in the heat she continues to wear long sleeved attire made of thin cloth. it's... actually miserable, but she has committed to it and now she has to live with it. ]

[ leslie leaves one of the backstage dressing rooms, initially half turned back to respond to something one of the people working there said. she herself is dressed as the flower girl in a white dress with a number of fluttery layers and a deep blue muslin sash, holding a basket of flower petals. (the petals have an enchantment that makes them gather together offstage with a touch of magic to aid in quick cleanup, though there was one time when it accidentally caused a quick petal storm when someone did so in the middle of the mock wedding display.)

when she turns to see byleth, her face lights up and she scurries over. ]

General Eisner! You look so cool!

[ but now that she's standing closer, she notices the very obvious displeasure and her expression fades to some mixture of confusion and concern. ]

Is there something wrong?

[ oh no. they dragged leslie into this too?? at least leslie looks extremely cute in that dress. byleth kneels to get closer to eye level with the girl, managing a slight smile and shaking her head. she's happy for the compliment, at least. ]

No, nothing's wrong. I suppose I'm just not... fully comfortable with all of this. [ hm. how much to say. ] You seem like you've taken well to it, though.

Every time I think that I'm getting used to it... [ she shakes her head, very slightly, giving merrin a glance up and down. doesn't seem like particularly seasonable clothing, but it's hardly her place to comment. she takes a sip of the drink she was offered. ]

I don't believe we've met.

[ she nods at that. ]

Likely an accident, from all I've heard... have you been told how this works? [ the process of getting rid of it, she means. ]

No, not at all. But there is a way to get rid of it - it's just a little arcane. The last person I was tied to was a stranger and as soon as I said that, it vanished...

[ Saber shrugs. ]

Someone's spell must have gone very wrong.

Likely not. There are so many people here, more than I've seen before back on my world. [ it could be they passed each other by at some point, but she would never know. strange thought that. ] My name is Merrin. I arrived in... Juril?

[ she hesitates in remembering the name, never having to track dates by months before. ]

[ leslie’s blank look at byleth’s admitting that she’s not comfortable suggests that she has no idea what could be making her uncomfortable about this, but that turns into a smile at the comment on her own involvement. ]

It’s been a lot of fun! I’ve never seen a wedding before, but now I’m learning a lot about them. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see one before I had one of my own, but now I think that I’m starting to understand what goes into them. [ her comment on having her own wedding is matter-of-fact, filled with neither excitement nor dread. as far as she’s aware, marriage is just Something Everyone Does. ] But if you’re not comfortable with it, you shouldn’t have to do this. ...Unless you promised to do it with Lady Edelgard?

[ there is no intended implication behind the idea of byleth performing in a mock-wedding with edelgard, as the two women keep their personal affairs private enough that leslie still thinks they’re just very good friends even though she lives with them. but when leslie thinks about what could make byleth feel a need to do something she didn’t want to do on her own, the only thing she can think of is if she were doing it for edelgard, since leslie has at least picked up that byleth would do just about anything for the emperor. ]

[Before long, Byleth is introduced to a petite fae, with flowers arranged in her hair and wearing an intricately flower-patterned gown to boot. She'd just modeled this outfit earlier, ridiculously high heels included (and not making her much less tiny), before being brought to meet her "groom" for a faux ceremony.]

Oh! Um. Hello...

[She blushes a little at the sight of the taller, lovely woman in the jacket and trousers. A year ago she might have had an instant little puppy crush, but now it's more... pleasant surprise? She'd assumed she'd be paired with a man, even though she knows from her time here that the roles aren't as strictly traditional as she's used to back home. Now that she knows it's a woman, it might be easier to relax and play along.]

Are you... okay? Is it uncomfortable?

[She's never worn pants in this place herself, at first because the trends when she arrived looked so formal and stifling. Maybe that's why the woman looks so ill at ease...?]

[ she nods. ]

Yes, some coven witches' fun got out of hand, I think. We... have to state our feelings about one another, I'm told?

[It's morning, about what would be breakfast for normal diurnal people. A simple ward's been set up around all entryways into the sitting room; Ferdie and one of the cats sit outside it, peering in. It's only designed to bar living creatures that weigh less than Leslie. A simple solution for keeping the other animals out and his own pets in, without hindering the people.]

Stop that. I told you to leave it alone.

[Hubert usually wasn't one for talking to himself, but the rats seemed to bring that out in him. He looks as tired as he sounds, slightly slouching in his chair and a healing bruise on his jaw. Hubert waves a hand lazily with a murmur, and a rat floats to him from the unlit fireplace. Another one lurks elsewhere in the room, trying to climb the curtains with great determination.]

[What the grey rat seemed to be investigating was a broom that was seemingly... leashed to the hearth. A broom that stood upright on its own and seemed to bob threateningly at the grey rat, tugging against its leash. A simple silence ward of all things was drawn near the broom.]

You're going to find out if it really can bite, should you keep harassing it, [Hubert mutters to the rat as the spell brings it back into his hand.]

[ byleth's shaken out of her thoughts by the "bride"'s approach. that dress does rather suit the young woman in front of her, at least. still, she shakes her head and smiles slightly. ]

Hello. No, I'm fine. And I like the clothes. [ she decides to just... move forward with this. ] You look beautiful.

[ better to get the topic off of whatever might be going through her own head, right? ]

Oh... [Natsuru can't help but blush at the compliment. She's glad it's not dark, or she might get caught glowing.] Thank you! You look... amazing too...

['Beautiful' didn't quite seem fitting, though the woman is lovely and the outfit suits her very well. Between the open admiration in her eyes and her tone, it probably gets her point across just fine.]

I'm Natsuru, by the way. I guess... I'll be posing as the bride. [There she goes blushing again.] Have you... done one of these ceremonies before? Last year, I only modeled the clothes. So this'll be my first...

[ her own face does redden a touch, seeing how natsuru is looking at her. well then. ]

Byleth. And... no, I haven't. I'm not actually sure how I was dragged into this...? [ she shakes her head. ] I guess we're both working blind.

[ oh. soundwave does look very good like this. a bit of surprise shows on her own face as the avatar approaches, at least. ]

Soundwave. You're not happy with this either? [ look. it's sort of obvious. ]

[ blue sea moon, then. she always needs a moment to remember this place's names, too. ]

Byleth. I'm not used to what they call the moons, either. Have you settled well? [ it always seems like a good first question, for people who haven't been here that long. ]

[ with her habit of waking in the mid-afternoon, it was getting late into the evening by her internal clock as she walked past the sitting room, and then... moved back again at the sound of hubert's voice. she holds a mug of tea in her hand, taking a sip as she peers inside.

byleth had, at least in the broadest sense, known about the rats hubert kept, but she hadn't seen much of them. ]

Too curious for their own good? [ the woes of being responsible for living creatures. ]

Y-Yeah, I guess...

[She'd have to admit, she'd hoped for someone with some experience she could lean on. But it's also reassuring, knowing that she's not the only one here just going along with the flow.]

They really do like dragging people into these things. At least it's not real! Or I hear it'd be bad luck for you to even see me.

[Look at that nervous smile as she awkwardly attempts to joke...]

Something like that? I simply told the last person I'd never met them.

[ She shrugs, a little smile threatening. It comes more often these days, now that she's relaxed a little. ]

You're my bonded - and I'd like to think that we're friends.

[ Friends is a good word, right? ]

[ she nods at that. it's hard to pin down some of her precise feelings about saber—her awareness of her own emotional state is generally poor—but. broadly, that sounds right.

it's nice seeing that little smile, all the same. ]

I'd like to think so too. We're bonded, and... I feel as if we're fairly similar. You can always come to me if you need help.

Edited 2020-09-01 00:06 (UTC)

And you can always reach out to me. It's mutual.

[ The string begins to fade, but that doesn't stop Saber from holding out her hand to Byleth. An invitation, of sorts. ]

You're not a monarch in your own right, but... yes. I think there are some similarities. One day I will have to tell you my entire story.

[ well, as for how much fun leslie is having, byleth's smile widens a bit, the child's joy clearly infectious. ]

I'm glad. And I... [ well. that's a loaded question. heat rises to her face, even if she's aware leslie likely doesn't mean much by it. ]

No, El and I haven't discussed doing... this. [ the mock weddings, she means. because clearly that's all they can be referring to. yep. ] You don't need to worry, I can get used to it. It's a worthy experience. And I like the clothes they gave me.

[ she takes saber's hand, smile widening. ]

I'll have to return the favor, then.

[ she opens her mouth slightly as if to speak, before closing it again, frowning a little in confusion and raising a hand to her chin. she... sort of gets that natsuru's trying to joke but now she's curious. ]

Is that really a superstition around all this? Strange. But... yes, they do. I still haven't gotten used to it.

[Ah... yeah, she forgets sometimes that not everyone is from a world like hers.]

Um, I don't know if it is here, actually. It's just something I've heard about Western style weddings. The groom isn't supposed to see the bride before she walks down the aisle.

[Though, come to think of it...]

Maybe they're skipping that part? It looks like they just want us to walk up together.

No, I am having the time of my life. Can't you tell?

[He's really, really not. It's immediately obvious by how tired he is by it all. and the snark.]

If only you knew, [he drawls back, immediately having to re-grab the grey one after she starts a trek back to the strange broom.]

Dust in particular. Should she want to get into something, I can't keep her out of it. Months later, and I still cannot fathom how she does it. [And there is genuine, upfront in frustration in his voice. He frowns at the little rat in his hand. She makes a leap to his leg only to be snatched up again.] The little devil only does it when I'm not around. I will not be outsmarted by a rodent.

[Hubert hums a note, adding,] Not that her getting loose is an issue. It hasn't been since I started giving her puzzles. I never would have let them out of my lab otherwise.

We'll need to find a time to do that. Unless we want to make time... now...

[ Woops, maybe she should've thought that through. They could make time now, couldn't they? It's not like they have other duties to attend to. ]

[ leslie is unfortunately not aware enough to notice the heat in byleth’s cheeks, so she doesn’t become suspicious of the pause. ]

I see. It might have been nice for the people organizing it since the two of you always look so comfortable together. And Hubert as well. [ leslie might be only two steps up on a brick in romance knowledge, but she can certainly see how naturally various combinations of the three leading figures of the wars in fódlan fit together with each other — especially in groupings that include edelgard. ] But I don’t know if either of them would be interested in something like this.

[ granted, hubert does like wearing black.... ]

But I understand. The first time I was on stage, it was...really uncomfortable. If I hadn’t already agreed to help out with more of the outfits, I don’t think I would have gone back. But now that I’ve gotten more used to it, it’s a lot of fun!

[ hm. byleth listens intently as hubert complains and explains, stepping past the ward and leaning against the doorframe. while she does have some questions—she's faintly interested in the idea that such a small creature is clever enough to solve puzzles, for one—she's more amused by the oddity of what's in front of her. ]

I never could have imagined you like this when we met. [ there's something oddly doting and undignified all at once about hubert's behavior here, she thinks. ]

[Something in Hubert stills at the remark, a thoughtful silence following. Dust seems to sense something through their familiar bond as well, her escape attempts pausing as she cranes a curious head around to gaze up at Hubert.]

[He almost felt like he'd been brought into this moment for the first time, suddenly hyper-conscious of himself. To think he, Hubert von Vestra, would sit idly while supervising a pair of rats as they explored and exercised.]

...Neither could I, [Hubert admits after a long pause, loosening his grip as Dust wiggles from his hold to crawl up his arm.] Even a year ago, I would have deemed it unthinkable that I would tolerate a rat to live. Let alone keep them as... pets.

[But somehow he'd grown to care for his lab companions. The chubby grey rat, having topped his shoulder, curiously squeaks up at him.]

[Other one, meanwhile, whirls her tail in an effort to not slip off the curtain rail.]

[ he doesn't need to say why, of course. she's well aware of edelgard's fear of the creatures. ]

I think it's been good for her, too. [ byleth knows that she doesn't need to say who. she steps a bit closer to her friend, keeping an eye on the rat on the rail. ]

Were you at all fond of animals before? [ she recalls hubert being a more than capable enough rider, but that's not altogether the same thing. ]

[ byleth shrugs one shoulder, finally releasing saber's hand. ]

I've nowhere to be. Shall we find somewhere better to talk?

That would be best. Perhaps back at the house? Yours or mine?

[ Privacy seems as if it would be welcome for this conversation. ]

[ she hums agreement at that, considering. ]

Mine, I suppose? Edelgard is still asleep, and Leslie and Hubert should be occupied... yes, that should work. [ her light smile widens a bit, as she nods once, decided on the matter. ] Come along. I'll make us tea.

That sounds wonderful.

[ Saber's smile seems warmer and more genuine than it has in a long time. ]

I'd like to see more of you and Edelgard and Leslie if I can.

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open | if you know the hunter’s coming, then you hide or keep on running

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iv. 27th, morning, the house

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jfc this is late HERE

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spends time fruitlessly trying to figure out if I imagined a previous fashion show or not

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jfc how did this sit so long. hi.

nooo worries

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